
For Immediate Release
January 21, 2025
Carmel Chamber of Commerce Announces
New Board Chair and Officers for 2025
(Carmel, CA – January 21, 2025) - The Carmel Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Freeman, Head Winemaker at Chalone Vineyard, as its 2025 Board Chair. Freeman replaces Clarissa Rowe, V.P./Community Relations Officer at Monterey County Bank.
Freeman will lead the Chamber in its mission to foster a vibrant, sustainable, and prosperous business community in Carmel and the surrounding areas. “I’m honored and humbled to serve as Chair of the Carmel Chamber," said Freeman. “The Carmel Chamber of Commerce has provided me with a professional home, a place where I can leverage my strengths, passions, and interests to build better communities.”
As the Head Winemaker for Chalone Vineyard, Greg Freeman brings more than 20 years of winemaking experience in Monterey County. His professional journey began in 2003 in the laboratory at Hahn Winery, where he quickly progressed to winemaker, collaborating closely with industry leaders like Nicholas Hahn and Paul Clifton. Over the years, Freeman has held winemaking roles with Georis/Cowgirl Winery in Carmel Valley and Messina Hof Winery in Texas.
Since joining Chalone Vineyard in 2021, Freeman has combined his expertise with his deep-rooted passions for art, science, and music, further enriching the vineyard’s storied legacy. Outside of winemaking, Freeman is renowned for playing the bagpipes at sunset on most days at Carmel Beach, bringing a unique cultural touch to the community.
The Carmel Chamber of Commerce is excited to work with Freeman as he brings his passion and dedication to the role of Board Chair, helping to elevate the organization’s impact on the business community and beyond.
The 2025 Carmel of Chamber Board also includes Clarissa Rowe, Past Chair, (Monterey County Bank), Jeff Ursino, Treasurer, (Mechanics Bank), Greg Ahn (Folktale Group), Ben Beesley (KW Coastal Estates), Cynthia Buhl (The Crossroads), Susan Elwood (Meals on Wheels), Heather Gardner (Monterey Touring Vehicles),Kevin Hill (Pebble Beach Company), Sara Hinds (Carmel Unified School District), Becky Jones (Sotheby’s International Realty), Tammy Jones (Edward Jones), John Lloyd (Pine Inn), Sygale Lomas (David Lyng), Shane Orser (The Quail), Kenny Spilfogel (Flaherty’s Seafood), Kim Stemler (The Carmel Foundation), and Kristin Torrice (Carmel Plaza).
About the Carmel Chamber of Commerce
The Carmel Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering a thriving business community through advocacy, education, and community engagement. With over 530 members spanning Carmel, Big Sur, Carmel Valley, and Monterey, the Chamber connects businesses with valuable resources, promotes economic vitality, and enhances the community's quality of life.
For more information about the Carmel Chamber of Commerce and its initiatives, visit carmelchamber.org.
Media Contact:
Kimberlie Guerrieri
Director of Communications & Membership
Carmel Chamber of Commerce
(831) 624-3876
membership@carmelchamber.org